The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-09-15
The Alaska Expedition.
The Chaplain heard from.-A friend
speaks for him.

10 SVtef JOHH
received few days ago, from some
source or other, copy of your sprightly
a graphic account of recent visit by the
editor to Lowell Lake, and also some lines
supposed to have been written by my old
friend, the Chaplain, who was at one
time attached to the Inflated Alaska Ex-
petition. | might be disposed to question
the authenticity of the lines referred to-,
for they are wanting in geographical ac-
curacy, but for the editors statement that
he actually found them, in musty con-
dition, hidden away in an old drawer of
the Chaplains room. They show the sad
state, almost bordering upon imbecility,
to which his usually clear intellect must
have been reduced at the time; for | am
sure he would never have been guilty of
such a rhythmical attempt before that
terrible shock came upon him which so
nearly Frustrated his mental faculties.
"-Alas, poor Yorick,
| knew him HOratio! A fellow of infinite jest,
and of most excellent fancy
sensitively nodded, gentle in disposition,
of strict veracity and unimpeachable NOR
ais, but unfortunately of such simplicity
of nature as made him an easy preyto the
artful and designing, 1t was always a
great mystery to me, and indeed to all of
his most intimate friends, how he should
have been led to associate himself with
the Kommodore upon any expedition what
ever; and it is only to be accounted for
upon the Suppostion that having lived a
retired life he fancied he might see some
thing of that great world of which he
was practically ignorant, and possibly
thought himself competent to act as a
check upon the Kommodore's well known
faults and eccentricities. Some thought
t hat he really had some genuine affection
for the ''old Kom," and was drawn to him
by feelings of personal friendship, but if
such was the case his taste was simply
unaccountable. The manuscript which
you have so unexpectedly discovered, and
wisely | think retained from criticising,
may throw some light upon that part of
the Kommodore's character so long left
in shadow; and also account for the
strange behavior of my friend when he
came back again to his former seclusion.
fart, in l., bn
in all respects that he was before, but APP
peared like person in scmi-daZed condi-
ton, never referring to the Kommodore
and meeting all attempts at conversation
upon the subject with an ominous shake
of the head.
You are wrong in your superstition that
the Chaplain's body makes one of those
dismal sticks in "Starks corduroy road"
Heis still running about, and may be seen
on very warm day quietly summing him
elf at the old house corner, and once in
awhile, as if drawn by some unaccounta-
BILE influence, he goes to the Lake, posi-
bly, to weep over the remains of that I'M
fortunate crew. For
"Oh, the wild, wild glare of the old mans eye
His dumb despair, and deep agony"
whenever he returns from such visit
wish the Kommodore no ill. If my
old friends words are true, it is now too
late, in the absence of all proof, to insti-
tute court of inquiry. May be live and
repent. Treat him kindly. Even patron
ize him if you will But don't forget to
remind him, that he owes an infinite debt
of gratitude to the Chaplain for his long
continued silence, and that should he I'M
fortunately out-live him, the least he can
do is to rear plain and unpretending
monument to his memory.
FEIIX GAuNT.